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Proof The GOP Needs More Libertarians

January 7, 2013

As a small l libertarian who votes Republican, let me just say this to all the capital R Republicans out there: You are your own worst enemies. As if I didn’t have enough examples of this in the last six months, I now get to read about how Glenn Reynolds aka Instapundit – one of the best friends Republicans have, has been disinvited to speak to the Utah GOP.

SO OVER THE YEARS I’VE OFTEN SAID that in my ideal world, happily married gay couples would have closets full of assault weapons.

You’d think that right now, with all the gun-owner-hating going on, that the second half of that statement would be the controversial part. But you’d be wrong. I was just disinvited from a scheduled speech by the Utah County, Utah GOP because — after a special meeting to discuss the subject — I was deemed “too controversial” because of my support for gay rights. Er, okay.

Having an unpaid speaking gig (which I seldom do anymore) canceled is no hardship. And people are welcome to believe what they want to believe, and invite whom they want to speak — but as the GOP looks at why they’re viewed as intolerant, well, this kind of thing might be part of it. “Big tent” or teepee? Your choice.

But future inviters be warned: While I take a live-and-let-live view toward social conservatives, I’m not one myself. Take it or leave it.

Whoever was responsible for this decision deserves demotion or dismissal. Andrew Breitbart and Ann Coulter have both served as members of GOProud. As Glenn Reynolds notes above, live and let live.